5 Mind-Blowing Things You Didn’t Know About Dogs

Raise your hand if you’ve seen videos of a jealous-looking pooch sulking in a corner while staring daggers at their owner playing with another pet. Or perhaps you’ve seen dogs that seem to be able to really understand what their hoomans are saying?

Either way, these videos raise the questions: Do dogs get jealous? Can they understand our language? What other things do I not know about my dog?

The answers, my friend, are below:

1. They can have Compulsive Disorders

While not exactly diagnosed as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) because there is no way of us knowing if a dog has obsessive thoughts, these canine critters can get Compulsive Disorders, which are exaggerations of normal dog behaviour.

These include spinning, tail-chasing, fly-biting, light-chasing, barking, chewing, staring into space, sucking on a toy, or sucking on a part of the body for an extended period of time. They are also frequently repeated out of context and in unusual situations.

Usually, these behaviours are caused by stress, frustration, or conflict, so if you see your fur buddy compulsively biting their own leg, it’s time to pay a visit to the vet!

2. They can catch some illnesses from us

Yes, it is possible for a person to transmit his or her virus to a dog. A process called reverse zoonosis, it happens when proper precautions are not taken, and may even result in pet fatalities in worst cases!

Thankfully, with today’s technological advances and medical prowess, it is highly unusual for us to pass our common illnesses to our furry friends. However, cases do happen, and four most common illnesses that can be transmitted include influenza, salmonella infection, giardia infection, and smoking-related diseases if you are a smoker yourself.

3. Some breeds can understand up to 200 words

Ever wondered why some dogs and babies get along so well? It could be because they can actually understand each other! According to the American Psychological Association, some dog breeds can be as smart as 2-year-old children. They understand up to 200 words, and this is especially true for notably intelligent breeds such as the Border Collie.

4. They can feel jealousy

If you have more than one dog in the family, you better make sure that you’re showering them with love equally! Studies have shown that if your dog sees another dog be rewarded for the same trick that it did – that did not warrant him/her a treat – your dog might display signs of agitation, anxiety, and unhappiness.

Think behaviours such as avoiding eye contact, yawning, scratching, and more. This not only makes them feel sad, but also decreases their motivation to perform the trick in the future.

5. Your dog can smell your feelings

Most dog owners will know that your pooch has the incredible ability to tell when you are feeling down, offering comforting licks and nudges in a bid to make you feel better.

Rather than having a sixth sense, though, our dogs are actually sensing our emotions through their sense of smell – our scent changes according to our emotions, and they pick up on these subtle changes! In fact, this is also how dogs can detect certain diseases or know if someone is pregnant.